49ers tackle blind side

Jeffri Chadiha, OF THE EXAMINER STAFF

Published 4:00 am, Friday, June 11, 1999

SANTA CLARA - Steve Young is focused on one of his usual areas of scrutiny this time of year. He's checking out the tinkering along the offensive line, monitoring just which part fits in where and of course, who has his back.

In what now seems to be a spring ritual, the 49ers are pondering just who should play right tackle for this year's team and thereby become the man who protects Young's blind side. Harris Barton was the starter at right tackle for more than a decade, before giving way to Kirk Scrafford, then Derrick Deese for part of last season.

Now second-year players Jeremy Newberry and Chris Ruhman have their chance to prove if they can handle the position. Young already believes Newberry is the man on the spot.

"There's a belief at the moment that Jeremy Newberry can play right tackle," Young said. "If that's the case, I don't know, because I haven't seen him there yet. But there's a feeling that he's big and strong and can quickly grow into the spot. OK, fine.

"But there's also a safety net with (right guard) Derrick Deese and (left tackle) Dave Fiore. We have some young guys who can play but it's clear that Newberry is the guy they want to play that spot. Kirk Scrafford is a longshot, but he's still out there, too."

While Young is willing to talk openly about what direction the team wants to go at right tackle, his boss, head coach Steve Mariucci isn't. Ruhman has been working out with the first offense for most of this minicamp and Mariucci has been solid in his stance that, at this point, all his coaching staff is doing is experimenting with possibilities.

"I don't have any favorites in this," Mariucci said.

"We're giving both guys the opportunity. Right now Chris is going with the (first team), but if either guy can't do it, we'll just move Deese back to tackle."

Chemistry is one thing the 49ers likely won't have to worry about if they have to resort to sudden position changes in the line in the future. Re-shuffling that unit was a popular trend last season. The since banished Jamie Brown was supposed to have a shot at right tackle when he arrived last season. Then Deese took over the job during the offseason.

Finally, Scrafford was back from retirement to man the position by midseason. Now Scrafford is back in retirement and Mariucci is attempting to cut back on the 54 sacks his team surrendered in 1998 by orchestrating a youth movement.

Ruhman, a third-round pick in 1998, has the edge in experience. He played left tackle throughout college at Texas A&M but entered the NFL lacking in the pass protection department. Ruhman has tried to improve in that department during the offseason by working with martial arts expert George Chung on how to use his hands best.

"It's helped me get used to being in my pass sets," Ruhman said. "At first it's strange but he teaches you where to strike and what the pressure points are on an opponent. I think I've improved over (at right tackle). I've gotten more used to the position."

Newberry was the team's second-round pick last year and had been expected to compete for a spot at either center, the position he played at Cal, or guard. However, the coaches like his athleticism and toughness enough to try him on the perimeter.

"I played a little tackle in high school, and that's about it, but I am enjoying the challenge of it," he said.

The biggest challenge for Newberry is adjusting to the quickness of the defenders he will face. He has spent extra time working against 49ers defensive ends James Posey and Gabe Wilkins, and those players already have noticed the changes in his techniques.

"I worked with him three weeks ago and he looks better now than he did then," Wilkins said. "Jeremy is versatile and he knows how to use his hands. You can make a guy like that into a tackle. Going from center to tackle, the tough thing for him will be the speed.

"People will try to run past him. But once he learns to use his hands better, and hold and grab legally, he could be OK."

Of course, the obvious question in the mind of Steve Young is how long it will take either man to become consistent enough to protect.

Deese is a nice fallback option, but the team would rather use him at right guard, his natural position and in the spot vacated by Kevin Gogan who was traded to Miami. So Young will have to wait and see who is next protector will be, hoping that the next man is up to the demands of the job.

"You just don't think about that part of it," Ruhman said. "I don't know if it's a tougher task but all we're concerned with is keeping people off Steve."

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NOTE: DE Chris Doleman officially announced his retirement on Thursday, notifying the NFL of his decision. By announcing the decision after June 1, he saved the 49ers cap space they can now use to pursue free agents.&lt;

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